Gary Giordano Tried to Collect Insurance Payout on Robyn Gardner: Report

Gary Giordano was beneficiary in policy that could be worth as much as $1.5M.

ByABC News
August 18, 2011, 8:42 AM

Aug. 18, 2011 — -- Gary Giordano, the only suspect in the disappearance of Robyn Gardner in Aruba, tried to redeem an insurance policy on Gardner that could be worth up to $1.5 million, according to a report.

Giordano moved to collect on the policy, which named him as beneficiary, within two days of reporting Gardner missing, the Associated Press reported.

Police were investigating an accidental death insurance policy for Gardner that named Giordano, 50, as the beneficiary, ABC News had reported earlier this week. It raised eyebrows because it was unusual to take out a policy for a weeklong Aruba tryst, particularly since Gardner, 35, had a boyfriend she lived with in Maryland and they had discussed marriage.

Aruba Solicitor General Taco Stein refused today to comment on the AP report.

"We knew from Mr. Giordano himself that travel insurance was taken out and that's what we are investigating. It was subpoenaed and we are investigating that material to see if it bears relevance to the investigation," Stein said Wednesday.

Travel Insurance Policy Focus of Robyn Gardner Investigation

In Maryland, Gardner's live-in boyfriend Robert Forester said the revelations about the insurance policy were disturbing.

"To be honest, I was saddened to hear it. I can't believe that Robyn would ever sign something like that voluntarily. Maybe if she was forced to, maybe if she was misinformed to what it was," Forester said.

New details also emerged about the relationship between Giordano and Gardner, who were seen posing together in sexual positions in photos recovered on Giordano's digital camera, according to People magazine.

The magazine reported that the photos, which it described as "beyond pornographic," showed Gardner in sexual positions with "parts of" Giordano in photos taken with his digital camera. People reports that Stein revealed the information about the photos.

Insurance Money Could be a Motive for Gary Giordano

Brad Garrett, a former special agent for the FBI, told ABC News that this latest revelation raises further questions about Giordano's intention in bringing Gardner to Aruba.

"Was this premeditated? Had he planned all along to lure her to Aruba and kill her for the insurance money? It has that flavor to it, but we'll have to see how evidence bears out," Garrett said. "It becomes extremely important when you add all the other pieces to what we know about Mr. Giordano. By adding this piece it obviously takes on a completely different context than preventative insurance of two people."